Dedicated to preserving and enhancing Lake Austin for those who live, work, and play on the lake. Austin, TX 78756
750-5161 cell
THE SHORT STORY OF HYDRILLA ON LAKE AUSTIN
A small patch of hydrilla was discovered in Lake Austin in 1999 and the City of Austin (COA) quickly recognized the seriousness and began perusing ways to eliminate it. The best solution was hydrilla-eating grass carp, which could only be stocked in the lake if the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) granted a permit. To everyone's surprise, TPW
D was not willing to allow the city to stock grass carp. It became obvious that an organized public outcry from concern citizens might convince TPWD to allow the stocking. In 2001, the Friends of Lake Austin (FOLA) was formed as the citizen's voice for Lake Austin. After two years of tough negotiating, both publicly and privately, between FOLA, TPWD, LCRA and the COA, the Friends of Lake Austin was finally able to see the stocking grass carp. The initial fish stocking began in 2003 and no one will argue that it was the work of FOLA that got the job done. In 2003 there was 241 acres of hydrilla (a record high at that time) and by 2005 there was only 1.7 acres of hydrilla found. From 2003 until now, we have been mostly successful in controlling hydrilla. But, TPWD continues to take a very conservative approach to the fish stocking and FOLA has been a constant voice for a more aggressive stocking rate. FOLA continues to be a strong voice and hires a private biologist (http://www.johnsonlakemgt.com/) to accompany every TPWD vegetation survey. Unfortunately, recent surveys have shown there is more hydrilla in Lake Austin than has ever recorded in history (566 acres). Because of this shocking news, we have finally been able to persuade TPWD to finally allow a more aggressive stocking ratio. We will now be allowed to stock at a 50:1 ratio (50 fish per 1 acre of hydrilla). For many years we have been concerned with the added growth and have been fighting hard to get additional stocking that has only maintained about a 20 fish or less per acre ratio. In Texas, there is no public funding for hydrilla control (Florida spends millions of dollar a year). Unfortunately, in Texas it has typically been up to lake residents to fund the costs of controlling hydrilla. Lake Austin has been the exception, the citizens of Lake Austin have been fortunate that the City of Austin and some federal matching dollars have, so far, paid over $160,000 of the grass carp stocking. Unfortunately due to budget cuts, funds for future fish stocking are not available. Residents of Lake Austin must now do what other lake homeowners have been doing for years - raise money to fight this growing disaster. It is urgent that FOLA raise the money necessary to fund any new fish stocking if additional fish are needed. Once hydrilla appeared to be under control in 2005, funding contributions for FOLA virtually stopped. (No problem, no funding) With the help a few dedicated volunteers, FOLA has continued to oversee the hydrilla battle. Thanks for your help,
Vance Naumann, President
Friends of Lake Austin - FOLA (a 501(c)(3) non-profit)
5536 Burnet Rd.
